BUS PROTECTION

Introduction
Faults in a power system can be either apparatus faults or bus faults. Apparatus fault refer
to faults in feeders, transformers, generators or motors. On the other hand bus is an
external interconnection point for terminals of different apparatus. A bus fault is usually
rare, but if and when it happens its consequences can be quite severe. It can lead loss of
multiple feeders or transmission lines and hence create a large enough disturbance to
induce transient instability. Even if it does not lead to transient instability, loss of load
from an important substation can be quite high. Because of these reasons, bus
rearrangement can have sufficient redundancy so that in case of bus fault, an alternative
bus automatically takes over the functions of the main bus. Thus, the end user sees no
disruption in service except during the fault interval. This can however involve
significant costs, viz the cost of new bus bar and additional circuit breakers to configure a
parallel arrangement. Hence, different bus configurations are used in practice each one
representing a different trade off between cost, flexibility and redundancy. In this lecture,
we will discuss following bus arrangements:-
1) Single bus single breaker
2) Single breaker double bus with bus-tie
3) Double bus double breaker
4) Ring bus arrangement
5) One - and a half circuit breaker arrangement
Differential protection discussed in lecture 3 is used for bus protection. If the algebraic
sum of all apparatus currents is zero, then there is no fault on the bus. However, during
bus fault, the apparatus current sums to the bus fault current. The details of differential
protection will be discussed in next lecture.
Single Bus Single Breaker Arrangement
Fig27.1 shows the single bus single breaker arrangement. In this particular example, there
are four feeders connected to a bus. Each feeder has a CT to monitor feeder current while
a single VT is used to measure bus voltage. The NC are mechanical switches which are
normally closed. During bus maintenance, these will have to be opened to guarantee
safety to maintenance personnel. In case of bus fault, all the breakers have to be opened
to isolate the bus. In turn, it leads to severe disruption of service to loads. Hence, this
scheme has minimum flexibility. However, it uses minimum number of circuit breakers,
(one per feeder) and also requires only one VT. Hence, it is cheap and is used for non
critical, low priority feeders where loss of service is not a prime consideration but low
cost (investment) is.
Single Breaker Double Bus with Bus Tie
Fig 27.2 shows the arrangement.

This arrangement is used when

(1) Large number of circuits exists especially at lower voltage and industrial
substation.
(2) Substation is fed from two separate power supplies with one supply for each bus.
If each bus has its own source, then bus coupler with overcurrent protection can be
opened or closed. In case of loss of supply, 51 (AC time overcurrent relay) is closed. For
each bus there is a differential protection is provided. For a bus fault, we have to open all
circuit breakers on bus along with 51T (trip breaker). Thus, bus fault leads to only partial
loss of service. The arrangement requires two VTs. Hence, this scheme with addition of
one bus bar and circuit breaker improves flexibility to the single bus single breaker
scheme.
Double Bus Double Breaker Arrangement
Fig 27.3 shows a double bus, double breaker arrangement.
As shown in the fig, each feeder is connected to two buses which in normal operation
mode are paralleled. Bus differential protection is provided for each bus and each feeder
needs its own VT. In case of a bus fault (say on bus-1), the breakers connected to it will
have to be opened. Subsequently, the system function then automatically switches to
alternative bus (e.g. Bus 2) with no loss of service to load. In case, if a feeder has to be
isolated, both the breakers connected to it will have to be opened. For line (feeder)
protection, to measure feeder current the CT contribution from both bus 1 and 2 have to
be summed. i.e. corresponding CTs are paralleled. In case of a stuck breaker, local
backup for breaker failure is to operate all the corresponding bus breakers. This bus
arrangement provides maximum flexibility but it is also costly as two breakers per feeder
are required.
Ring Bus Arrangement
Fig 27.4 shows a typical ring bus arrangement with 4 feeders.

Again to isolate a feeder, say on a feeder fault 2 adjacent breakers have to be operated.
Similarly, feeder current is calculated by summing or paralleling the appropriate CTs.
Each feeder requires its own VT. The arrangement requires one circuit breaker per feeder
and hence is less costly. This arrangement is popular because of low cost and high
flexibility. As the bus section between the two breakers becomes a part of the line,
separate bus protection is not applicable or required. i.e, the feeder protection also
provides the functionality of bus bar protection.
One and a Half Circuit Breaker Arrangement
Fig 27.5 shows the one and a half circuit breaker arrangement.
It is so called because total number of breakers is 1.5 times the number of feeders. Fig
shows the arrangement with 4 feeders and 6 breakers. There are two buses, each one
having its own bus differential protection. In case of a bus fault, all breakers connected to
the bus will have to be opened. Automatically, the system operation moves to alternative
bus without any further loss of service. Hence, this scheme also provides a high level of
flexibility. Now, consider the case of a stuck breaker say while clearing of feeder fault. In
case of a stuck breaker which is connected to the bus (shown in red in fig 27.5), the local
breaker backup (LBB) is to open all the breakers on the bus. In the case of stuck central
breaker (see violet breaker) i.e. when the shared breaker is stuck, LBB consists of
opening the adjacent breaker. In addition, a transfer trip signal is required to the breaker
at the remote end of the feeder connected to stuck breaker.